by Kim Schroeder

Within the past couple of years, we have seen an increase in open workspaces.  The intention was that employees could collaborate, share knowledge, and be more productive overall. Corporate America thought this was an ideal solution for encouraging teamwork.  We now know that this is not always the case.  There are current studies that show that an open work environment can be more disruptive.  The lack of privacy, along with the added noise, can do the opposite of what was intended and inhibit an employee’s ability to concentrate, therefore decreasing productivity. 

by Diana L. Martin

We're almost to the end of another year - do you know what that means? It means that it's time to check your date stamps. Are you on the last year band? Do you need to order a new stamp?

Some customers are confused by the process of ordering a custom stamp. They know basically what they want, but, when their office products dealer asks them for details, suddenly it seems not so simple. It needn’t be difficult – we’ll walk you through the process.

by Diana L. Martin

We are constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience at OEX. A year and a half ago, we changed software companies and launched a brand new website. We’ve received lots of compliments about it and we’re so glad you liked the change! But, like most things in life, it wasn’t perfect. You let us know what you liked, what you didn’t like, and what features were on your wish list - and we listened. We’ve been working with our software provider as well as some of you who agreed to be beta testers for us (thank you!) and last week we launched the redesigned and improved site!

Here are four of the improvements we’ve made that we think you’ll love:

by Alex Plachta, Print Department Manager

A few years ago there was a thought that everyone would go to exclusively digital invitations and advertisements, but that has proven not to be the case - at least not yet. Maybe in another 15 years it will be, but even the younger crowd likes getting some physical material and research shows that people are more likely to remember information when there is a physical piece to touch and feel.

You may be asking, "Why do I need a buying guide for trash bags - what's so difficult about buying them?"  Difficult?  Nothing really, but there actually is science behind them that you may not be aware of.

There are basically two steps to choosing a can liner:

1. Understanding the plastic types and gauge
2. Matching bag sizes to cans

Let's take a look at each of those steps.

by Diana L. Martin

Shipping products presents various challenges, depending on the item. Most people think of fragile items or liquids when they’re thinking about items that need special care in packaging, but really all items need to be packed securely to prevent damage. Let’s face it - carriers are not exactly gentle on packages.

Occupational wellness speaks to a person’s ability to balance work and life in a healthy way that promotes satisfaction personally and professionally. Whether it’s engaging in work that motivates you, having a strong sense of work/life balance, or collaborating well with your coworkers, occupational wellness can come in many forms. Here are a few ways to improve your own occupational wellness so you can make the most of your career.

by Diana L. Martin

The Green Movement has been around for a lot longer than most people realize. It actually has its roots in Europe and has been active in the United States since at least the time of the Industrial Revolution, although most people here probably think it began in 1970 with the first Earth Day celebration.

Many of you are concerned about environmentally friendly and safe office products, especially as it concerns janitorial/cleaning supplies.

by Kim Schroeder

When contemplating commercial carpeting for your business, there are some things that need to be considered before buying. For example, what type of business do you have, and what kind of foot traffic comes through on a daily basis? The answers to these questions will determine what type of carpeting you will need to install.

Commercial carpeting is durable and intended for heavy traffic. It is designed to last a long time and has stain-resistant properties to make it do so.

by Diana L. Martin

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I’m a very particular person. Actually, they may say persnickety, finicky or fussy. Personally, I think exacting, meticulous or discriminating are better adjectives. When I find something I like I don’t like having to make substitutions. Consequently, the whole pandemic situation is not good for people like me - especially in the grocery store!

Supply chain issues exist everywhere, in every industry, and it’s just getting worse. If you’re like me and are brand loyal, you’re probably a bit frustrated.

by Alex Plachta

Customized shirts and jackets are a fun way to give your employees something practical to represent their company. Personally, I feel more professional wearing my Office Express gear and it gives me some zero thought outfits to wear to work, which is always good! Not every promotional item gets good use and I think apparel has as good a chance as any to be used and appreciated.

by Diana L. Martin

IT’S BACK!!! Have you seen it?

You’ve been asking for the ability to pay your invoices online ever since we switched to our new website in 2021 and we’re happy to announce that the feature is finally back! You can now pay your outstanding invoices online with a credit card.

It’s super simple. The Pay Invoices function is located on your Dashboard. Here’s a quick tutorial. Click on any of the images to enlarge them.

by Diana L. Martin

At Office Express, our passion is you - our customers. We’re constantly striving to give you the best service possible and the driving question is, “What more can we do for our customers?”

Running a business is hard work and requires an enormous amount of time and energy - and legal red tape. We can now help make that a little easier for you with the addition of notary services.

Lunch and Learn programs have become the latest trend to take over the world of office culture, particularly due to the potential benefits they can offer. From decreasing turnover and boosting employee morale to encouraging teamwork, here’s why Lunch and Learns may be the right fit for your organization.

by Diana L. Martin

Here we are at last. The final installment of the totally epic series "How to Choose an Office Supply Vendor." The series that has overtaken Harry Potter as the most read of all time! The one that has had you riveted to your seat!

Just kidding.

No, really...I'm kidding.

Seriously.

(Yeah, like you really thought I was serious.) So anyway, we've arrived at the last of my topics - Payment Terms and Refunds. I think I'll work backward here and start with the refunds.

by Diana L. Martin

Hello again!

I know what you're thinking. You're talking back to your monitor right now wondering what took me so long to get to this point. Well, if you've been following this series, hopefully you've started to realize that there are many things to consider when choosing an office products vendor - not just one. People put too much emphasis on that one thing. But it is there, and we do need to talk about it, so here we go.

Let's discuss the dreaded . . .

P R I C I N G

by Diana L. Martin

So here we are on Part 4 of my current series - How to Choose an Office Supply Vendor. Today we’ll look at ease of ordering.

There are lots of things to discuss on this topic and I’ll start with the most basic question - "How many ways can I order with your company?"

Believe it or not, there are companies out there that don't take phone orders. Or fax orders. Uh huh. All orders have to be placed online. Friendly, eh?

by Diana L. Martin

Welcome back! The next thing to consider in your search for an office supply vendor is products and delivery.

PRODUCTS

A big question here is: Does the supplier carry the items you purchase regularly?

Ideally, the answer is yes. A good office supply vendor will carry a vast array of items - not just typical office supplies like paper, writing instruments and binder clips. Can your company buy its basic supplies, ink and toner, electronics, furniture, breakroom and janitorial supplies all from the same vendor? What about specialty supplies? Make a list of your frequently ordered items and verify that the supplier carries them. If not, are you willing to switch brands? A good supplier will offer multiple name brand and generic ("house brand") items to choose from. Also, is the supplier willing and able to special order items for you?

by Valerie Glander

NeoCon was back for 2021! The annual commercial design show features the latest trends and newest products from furniture manufacturers and finish vendors across the industry. Furniture trends continue to show softer designs, quite literally. Velvet was featured everywhere! Soft curves, warm colors in furnishings created inviting and comfortable spaces in our vendors’ showrooms. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorite things!

by Diana L. Martin

Everyone has had bad customer service experiences - some worse than others. I know I've had many, many more than I care to remember. Customer service is a fundamental part of any business and should be one of your top priorities when selecting an office products vendor - or, for that matter, any other supplier.

Usually people start with price when evaluating suppliers, and we’ll get to that in a future blog, but customer service before, during and after the sale is extremely important. Can you call and speak with a live person or are you limited only to email or chat? Does the supplier hide their phone number on their website? Is their phone tree endless? Do they have knowledgeable representatives with industry experience who can answer your questions or are they outsourced (usually overseas) and reading off a script? Do they even offer customer service?